As Shaq and LeBron prepare to partner in Cleveland, some signs of turbulence

Once you get past author Hannah Karp referring to LB and Shaq as "Mr. James" and Mr. O'Neal", the article is pretty entertaining.

One thing's for sure: the pair wouldn't last long on "The Newlywed Game." Mr. O'Neal said last week he did not know Mr. James's favorite spot to shoot the ball from in the three-point range, while Mr. James was surprised to learn that Mr. O'Neal led the league with his field-goal percentage last season.

If you've been wondering whether Jeff Van Gundy thinks this union solves some of the Cavaliers' biggest problems, Ms. Karp has the answer:

Former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy, now a TV analyst, says Mr. O'Neal, a center, doesn't solve some of the Cavaliers' biggest problems, including their lack of a shooting forward. In the Eastern Conference finals this year, where the Cavaliers lost to the Orlando Magic four games to two, "I don't think the center position was Cleveland's demise," he says. Instead, he says, it was their inability to match up with Orlando forward Rashard Lewis. "That's something the trade for O'Neal didn't address."

OK JVG, I don't necessarily disagree. And speaking of centers, I don't want to hear one bad word about Z, who I will always adore for his patience, fortitude, work ethic, skill sets and general adorableness.

... Zydrunas Ilgauskas [said Jeff Van Gundy] ... is arguably as effective at the position, if not more so, than Mr. O'Neal.

Thank you.

Danny Ferry, and unnamed Cavaliers officials, speaking for the defense:

In defense of the deal, Cavaliers officials say they're counting on the fact that Mr. O'Neal draws extra defenders when he has the ball--and sometimes even when he doesn't--which will give Mr. James more room to work and leave one man wide open. (Mr. Ilgauskas seldom got double-teamed.) "He is a force," said Danny Ferry, Cleveland's general manager, in a recent press conference, adding that Mr. O'Neal is a good passer, great receiver and strong on both ends of the court.

So is this a marriage of love or convenience? Will it last? Hannah Karp:

Most experts who study teamwork, from former athletes to researchers at the Wharton School say the most important indicator of a partnership's potential is whether the two parties share the same ultimate goal.

Assuming the ultimate goal is not divorce, I think we're ok on that front:

... Mr. James and Mr. O'Neal stated in separate interviews this month that their No. 1 goal is indeed the same--to win the NBA championship.

LB Jimmy is ring hungry. Shaq already has four. Hannah Karp and I are wondering the same thing: Why would Shaq crave a fifth ring? Already suffering under the dual burdens of fame and fortune, how does he stay motivated?

Dr. Virginia Rutter, a sociologist, psychologist and co-author of "The Love Test," likens the Shaq-LeBron union to an arranged marriage, where "the well-being of the group depends on a good union, and the necessity of [the group's] well-being also helps the relationship." In other words, the pair's obligation to the team, she says, makes it more likely they'll get along than if they were friends independently.

Which is a good thing because Hannah Karp tells us:

Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James, who will be teammates on the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers this coming season, say they haven't seen each other socially since the All-Star Game in February. Mr. O'Neal says their recent interchanges have consisted mostly of terse BlackBerry Messenger greetings like "Hey" and "What up?"

"Everyone thinks you have to like each other to win a championship, but that's not true," says Mr. O'Neal. "You have to have respect but you don't have to go on vacation together."

Separate vacations often make for solid marriages. So where's the discord hinted at in WSJ's "turbulence" subtitle?

... the new teammates also revealed that they have slightly different expectations of how they'll achieve their shared vision. They agree, for example, that Mr. James will be "the leader" which, Mr. O'Neal says, makes this the first time in his 17 seasons in the NBA that he has accepted a supporting role.

I feel a qualifier coming on . . .

Still, Mr. O'Neal indicated last week that he did not expect to be taking any orders or criticism from his younger counterpart.

Ouch. What do you suppose LeBron said when he heard that?

"Hopefully I can try and make him learn some things," said Mr. James, noting that Mr. O'Neal "doesn't have the athleticism or quickness he had as a kid."

Ouch. Shaq?

In response, Mr. O'Neal said "it happens to the best of us."

Sounds like an old married couple to me. And they do have one thing in common:

Both Mr. O'Neal and Mr. James insisted that they "never" get frustrated with their teammates (psychologists say this suggests both players are almost certainly in denial) and until this point neither one has had to make any monumental compromises.

Which brings me to my favorite part of the article, the basketball equivalent of my grandfather shouting "What? I can't hear you" before my grandmother finished speaking:

When asked what he was prepared to sacrifice or give up in order to reach his goal this season--a telling question for compatibility analysts--Mr. O'Neal said he didn't understand the question.

So there you are. Denial. Competition. Miscommunication. Common goals. Separate vacations. A recipe for the perfect marriage. Unless of course, it isn't. In which case, Ms. Karp tells us not to worry:

If it doesn't work, this basketball marriage could be annulled relatively quickly. Mr. O'Neal is in the last year of his contract, so if the experiment fails, he could be traded by February's deadline, leaving the Cavs poised to attract another big-name player the next summer, when Mr. James will be a free agent.

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